Gallery Calapooia First Friday & Artist Reception

Every First Friday, you can meet the artists whose artwork will be displayed this month at Gallery Calapooia at their Artist Reception. Refreshments will be served. This event is free.

September will feature artist Melissa Babcock Saylor

Melissa says:
“For the longest time I could not come up with a theme for my show. I had a few ideas like, Angels or Flowers of the Northwest. But, it didn’t feel right and I was not inspired.Then one morning as I was doing my best to wake up and be cheerful like my husband is in the morning I started thinking about my childhood here in Albany. It occurred to me that my artwork really reflects the things I loved so much about my childhood.

Like, pets and animals. I had a lot of pets. They included, dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks, goldfish, turtles and a horse. Once, I even found some baby kits, but my mother would not let me keep them. They did stink a bit, but oh so cute! Anyway, I grew up an only child living with my Mom and Dad on a non-working farm on the outskirts of Albany. Back then, people just let their children wander around from morning until dusk. And that’s what I did. I had the run of our
place. I was extremely good at climbing trees, even though I had a lovely tree house out in the big maple tree. My parents also encouraged my imagination. So, I was always drawing and making things. I firmly believed that there were fairies and elves out living in our garden. I was forever looking for them.

So, my show this month is really a reflection of my love of color and I hope it shows my whimsical imagination The artwork for this show was created in cut paper and collage. Most of the paper used in making my art is painted using a gel plate. Copies of two of the books I have illustrated will be on hand, as well as my handmade folios”.